Shakespeare, William

Folio (365 x 231mm.), 458 leaves, COLLATION: [π]² [π]A⁴, A-Y⁶ Z⁴, 2B-2Z⁶, *3A-*3D⁶, *3E⁸, 3A-4B⁶ 4C², THE FOURTH COLLECTED EDITION OF SHAKESPEARE'S PLAYS,  first issue with Greg's (*) title, engraved portrait by Droeshout with verses by Ben Jonson beneath, woodcut initials, text in double column, roman and italic type, printer's device on title-page, headlines and catchwords, two pages of L1 set in smaller type as usual, later crushed red morocco by Riviere, covers with triple gilt fillets enclosing outer panel with roll-tooled borders with fleurons and side-pieces surrounding triple-fillet inner panel, spine in seven compartments richly gilt, gilt edges, printing on recto of 2O5 slightly faint, a few tiny burn-holes (e.g. to 2O6), a few neat marginal repairs (e.g. to 3S6, some very slight occasional spotting, minor offsetting to later endpapers, very light rubbing to extremities of binding, a few light scuff marks to covers

William O'Brien, bequest booklabel dated 1899

Wing S2915; Greg III, pp. 1119-1121; Bartlett 123a; Pforzheimer 910

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A FINE, FRESH COPY OF THE FOURTH FOLIO IN A RIVIERE BINDING.

The fourth folio edition of Shakespeare's plays, like the third folio of 1663-4, includes at the end Pericles and the six spurious plays The London Prodigall, The History of Thomas Lord Cromwell, Sir John Oldcastle, The Puritan Widow, A Yorkshire Tragedy, and The Tragedy of Locrine. These had been previously published as late Elizabethan or early Jacobean quartos with attributions to Shakespeare or "W.S".

The fourth folio may be regarded as the stateliest of all the four editions, being printed on a Royal Paper stock, distinctly larger than the sheets of the First, second or third folios. Printing was shared between three shops. Robert Roberts is known to have printed the Comedies and the preliminary leaves (see F. Bowers, Shakespeare Quarterly, July 1951, iii. 241-6).